CYNGOR CYMUNED COMMUNITY COUNCIL www.llanfaircommunitycouncil.co.uk

Minutes of an Ordinary Meeting of the Council held at Ysgol Pentrecelyn on Monday 14 October 2019 at 7.00 pm.

PRESENT – Councillors Jayne Mayers [Chair], David Baker, Bob Barton, Wini Davies [part of the meeting], Owen Evans, Osian Owen, Ceri Ranson [part of the meeting] and Eirwen Godden, Clerk.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Owen Evans to his first Council meeting. The Declaration of Acceptance of Office form was duly signed.

IN ATTENDANCE - 2 members of the public, Leader of County Council [DCC] Councillor Hugh H Evans Evans OBE and Mr Ben Wilcox-Jones, Senior Engineer DCC.

APOLOGIES Councillors Tim Faire & Keith Moulsdale [Vice-Chair] [on holiday]

PART 1 596 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor David Baker [Llanfair Church]

597 MINUTES - RESOLVED The minutes of the Meeting held on 9 September 2019 were approved and signed as a correct record.

598 CLERK’S REPORT 598.1 Update on Council Vacancy [565.1, 574.1, 588.1] Reported that the County Council had not received a request for an election following the resignation of Paul Weston and that the Community Council was therefore free to co-opt to fill the vacancy. The Clerk confirmed that notices had been placed on notice-boards and the Council website with a deadline of 25/10/19 for expressions of interest in the vacancy.

598.2 Llysfasi College The Clerk stated that, due to annual leave, she had yet to contact Llysfasi College for a meeting to discuss the proposal and, if possible, at a Community Council meeting using the College as a venue on 25/11/19..

598.3 Open Spaces/Countryside Services [535.5, 545.2, 557.3, 568.4, 579.5, 593.3] Submitted – copy of minutes of the Llanfair Fyw conservation group of a meeting held on 26/09/19. N Wildlife Trust is working with the AONB staff to do some clearing work at Pant Ruth in the autumn/winter of 2019. The Trust will be working with the local conservation group [Llanfair-Fyw] facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2013627798742210/ and also the Grwp Gwyllt [young families]. Volunteering opportunities and events/activities for the community to get involved with the nature reserve Graig Wyllt in Graigfechan will also be promoted on the facebook page. This information had also been made available in the local Chronicle. Noted.

598.4 Brenig Windfarm Community Investment Fund [590.2] Submitted – update from Cadwyn Clwyd stating that the benefit fund is now open for applications and the closing date is 11/11/19. Cadwyn Clwyd has set up two drop-in sessions for the community to come and discuss ideas and possible grant applications at the Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre,

2019Minutes14October.doc 1 LL21 9TT on 25/09/19 and 16/10/19 3 – 5.45 pm. Fran Rhodes, DCC’s Community Development Officer is also happy to provide support to develop a community project or idea [email protected] 01824 712968. Noted.

598.5 Forest Wind Farm Submitted – update on construction which is well underway. Once fully operational, the associated community funding worth a total of £19million over the operating lifetime will become available to applicants. This flexible funding has the potential to significantly benefit communities both very local to the project and more widely across . Currently, the process is underway to put in place an organisation to administer the fund, with an announcement set to be made later in the Autumn. Noted.

598.6 Bungalows at Graigfechan [593.8] The Clerk is awaiting a response from Emily Reddy [DCC Housing] about the bad condition of footpaths around the bungalows and leading on to the main road including the pot holes on their car park.

599 COMMUNITY MATTERS 599.1 Old School Site/New School Llanfair D C It appears that the new school will not be opening until early 2020 due to legal issues concerning drainage.

599.2 Housing Development/Mains Gas Work on the site is progressing well. The developer has confirmed that he will ensure that contractors keep mud on the main highway to a minimum.

599.3 Neighbourhood Plan A decision on priority and time frames for proposals was required. Mr Steve Whipp agreed to take responsibility to re-convene the sub group. New items are to be added.

600 CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS 600.1 Hospital League of Friends The League of Friends has extended an invitation for the Community Council to send one or two representatives onto its committee which meets four times a year. The League of Friends plays a vital role in assisting the hospital to achieve its aim of providing quality services for all in-patients and out-patients. Cllr Bob Barton stated that he would be attending the next meeting on 13/11/19.

600.2 Memorial to WW2 Air Crash Victims Letter dated 07/10/19 from Mr E H Edwards [and representing Mr John Harrop] containing a proposal to provide a double garden seat inscribed with “In Memory of the Thirteen Servicemen who died on July 17th 1942 when their RAF Plane crashed at Tyn y Bryn Llanfair DC”. RESOLVED that Mr E H Edwards’ generous offer be accepted.

600.3 OVW News Bulletin September 2019 Briefing circulated to Councillors for their attention/information. Noted.

600.4 Mr Darren Millar AM Letter dated 23/09/19 expressing a wish to meet with the Community Council again this year as part of his commitment to work closely with members for the benefit of local residents. RESOLVED that a list of Community Council meeting dates be sent to all political parties with an open invitation to attend any of the meetings.

2019Minutes14October.doc 2 600.5 Ysgol Pentrecelyn Governing Body Email dated 07/10/19 from the Chair of Governors inviting the Community Council to nominate Councillor Osian Owen to fill the vacancy following Medwen Roberts’ resignation. RESOLVED that Councillor Osian Owen’s name be forwarded as a nominee for consideration as a member of the school’s governing body.

600.6 North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority – Development of a Long Term Environmental Strategy Consultation Email dated 04/10/19 inviting the Community Council to put forward ideas for services that the Authority might provide in the next 20 – 30 years. Closing date for responses – 31/12/19. RESOLVED that a copy of the Community Council’s Neighbourhood Plan be forwarded to the N W Fire and Rescue Authority

600.7 DCC Planning Compliance Charter Email dated 10/10/19 from Mr Adam Turner, Development Management. DCC is introducing a planning compliance charter which will set out how the Council can work alongside local organisations such as city, town and community councils to tackle unauthorised developments. Deadline for comments – 31/10/19. Concern was expressed at the short time for responses. RESOLVED that the inadequate time given for responses be brought up at the Chairs/Clerk’s meeting with Denbighshire County Council on 15/101/19. [Since the meeting the deadline has been extended up to December 2019].

601 Feedback/Report[s] on Conferences/Training/Meetings Planning Wales/OVW 601.1 SLCC Branch Meeting 12/09/19 This provides an opportunity for Clerks to meet and network, sharing ideas and expertise on a host of topics such as asset registers, pension regulations, new model financial regulations/new practitioners’ guide, forthcoming conferences and training events including general queries submitted by Clerks. It is hoped that the focus of the December meeting will be on working to comply with the Democracy Wales Act re website accessibility.

601.2 OVW Conference & AGM 05/10/19 Cllr Bob Barton had attended both the Conference/AGM as well as an Area meeting recently which focussed on the future role of town and community councils; mandatory training and clerks’ qualifications in particular. Cllr Barton emphasised the need for Welsh Government to provide sufficient financial support to cover costs.

601.3 Chairs/Clerks Meeting with DCC Officers 15/10/19 Noted that the Chair and Clerk would be in attendance.

602 PLANNING www.denbighshire.gov.uk/planning

602.1 Application 20/2019/0745 – submitted by Mr Stephen Emberton re erection of car port/garage at Tyn y Berllan, Pentrecelyn. No objections were raised.

602.2 Application 20/2019/0777 – submitted by Lloyd and Edwards re demolition of existing extension, conservatory and associated balconies, and erection of new extensions at Berthen Gron, Pentrecelyn. No objections were raised.

602.3 Application 20/2019/0844 - submitted by Coleg Cambria re erection of a sprinkler tank, pump house and associated works at Llysfasi. No objections were raised.

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602.4 Welsh National Development Framework [NDF] Consultation Submitted – Briefing paper and draft Community Council response. The National Development Framework [NDF] is a 20 year development plan that covers the whole of Wales. It has been produced by Welsh Government and, once adopted, it will cover the period 2020 – 2040. The consultation was launched on 08/08/19 and responses are invited with a deadline of 01/11/19. Mr Steve Whipp was thanked for producing a draft response for members to consider. RESOLVED that the response be submitted as drafted.

603 HIGHWAYS & ENVIRONMENT Members considered the following matters: 603.1 Speeding Matters/Data [593.10] Guest speaker Mr Ben Wilcox-Jones, Senior Engineer, DCC. Mr Wilcox-Jones had been invited to the meeting as residents had asked for an update on what is being done and what action can be taken to reduce speeding in and out of Llanfair DC on the A525 including the stretch of the highway in and out of the Nant y Garth Pass. The introduction of speed restrictions on other roads has meant that motorcyclists are, for instance, avoiding those areas and using the A525 as an alternative route. He acknowledged that this is a pressing issue for the area; measures have been put in place at Llanfair such as a VAS, an advisory 20 mph limit, and there are plans to relocate the 30 mph limit further north near the new housing development site. There is some data available which suggests that speeding through Llanfair village is increasing ranging from 37-39 mph in a 30 mph limit. The usual practice is to review over a 12 month period then again in three years’ time. Welsh Government is looking at potentially 20 mph being mandatory in all urban areas in Wales but cost implications are very high. Measures to reduce speeding depend on meeting certain legislative criteria, traffic visibility, collisions and other factors. There is a proposal to reduce the speed limit to 40 mph through Llysfasi and the Nant y Garth Pass which could be imposed in 3-4 months’ time if no objections are received. The Leader expressed a wish for a more coherent relationship with the Police.

The Chair thanked Mr Wilcox-Jones for attending the meeting.

603.2 Update on Proposals for the Green Opposite Bron y Clwyd, Llanfair D C [557.1,568.3, 579.2, 593.1] The Clerk reported that she had received a response from Heather Battison-Howard, DCC’s Greenspace Development Officer about progress and next steps for planting trees, bulbs and/or wildflower turf. She has managed to obtain approximately 150 native species broadleaf hedging plants for the project for free. The number is not quite enough and will have to be purchased from a local nursery; there is a suggestion that the hedge should be planted soon over a couple of sessions and for the trees and wildflower meadow to be left until February 2020. Llanfair School’s headteacher fully supports the scheme and is happy for the school children to be involved with planting.

RESOLVED that the scheme goes ahead as recommended by the Greenspace Officer and that delegated powers be given to the Chair and Clerk regarding making a donation towards the cost of purchasing plants/trees.

603.3 Draft Plan for Maintaining & Enhancing Biodiversity within the Community Council area. Public authorities (including Community & Town Councils) are required under the Environment Wales Act 2016 Section 6 to prepare and publish a plan setting out what it proposes to do to comply with the duty to Maintain and Enhance Biodiversity within

2019Minutes14October.doc 4 their current work areas. The Welsh Government has informed One Voice Wales that the Guidance will be issued shortly. RESOLVED Noted and that consideration be given to producing an addendum to the Neighbourhood Plan with reference to biodiversity.

603.4 Parking on Layby near Llysfasi Local residents had raised a query as to whether a Voel Coaches vehicle was allowed to park on the layby all day. There was also a complaint about the school bus speeding along the Graigfechan to Pentrecelyn road. The Clerk was asked to contact DCC on both matters.

PART 2 604 RESOLVED that the Press and Public be excluded from the meeting due to the confidential nature of the following items: 605 FINANCIAL MATTERS 605.1 Summary of Income & Expenditure for the period 1 April to 30 September 2019 submitted for approval. RESOLVED that the statement be approved.

605.2 Payment of Accounts/Invoices RESOLVED that payments be made as follows: £138.89 Clerk’s Expenses July – September 2019 £25.00 Llanbedr Community Council – 25% share of OVW conference fee 05/10/19 [Cllr B Barton]

605.3 Requests for Financial Aid RESOLVED that payments be made as follows: £100.00 Nightingale House Hospice £200.00 Royal British Legion – Ruthin Poppy Appeal Members were reminded that Remembrance Day is on 10 November 2019.

605.4 Improvements/Repairs to the War Memorial Submitted – Extracts from application submitted to Planning by the Community Council’s agent, Mr John Pugh, Chartered Surveyor. No planning fee is due.

605.5 Update on the External Audit Process The Clerk reported that confirmation had been received stating there were no issues which came to the attention of the external auditor requiring a separate additional report. The Chair was thanked for placing copies on the Council notice boards and website during the absence of the Clerk on holiday. RESOLVED that the audit report be approved and accepted by the Council.

606 DATES OF FUTURE MEETINGS A suggestion was made for consideration given to having the first part of meetings being open to the public for 10 minutes. 2019 11/11/19 [Genus Centre], 25/11/19 [precept budget meeting – Coleg Llysfasi], 09/12/19 [Ysgol Llanfair]

2020 13/01/20 [Ysgol Pentrecelyn], 10/02/20 [Ysgol Llanfair], 09/03/20 [Genus Centre]

The meeting ended at 8.45 pm ______CHAIR ______DATE

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